Distance Measuring Apparatus

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2025-041933 filed Mar. 14, 2025 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-174845 filed Oct. 4, 2024.

The present invention relates to a distance measuring apparatus.

JP2021-153135A discloses a light emitting apparatus including a plurality of driving units, a plurality of laser element arrays, and connection wiring. The plurality of laser element arrays are connected to the plurality of driving units, respectively. The connection wiring connects terminals connected to the driving units of the laser element arrays among the plurality of laser element arrays.

JP2023-113029A discloses a distance measuring apparatus including a light emitting unit, a light receiving unit, a shaping unit, a measuring unit, and a correction unit. The light emitting unit includes a plurality of light emitting elements and can be independently driven in a plurality of regions. The light receiving unit includes a plurality of light receiving elements that receive reflected light of light emitted from the light emitting unit to a target object. The shaping unit generates an overlapping portion in which the reception of the reflected light overlaps between adjacent regions on the light receiving unit. The measuring unit measures a distance to the target object from a difference between a waveform of the light received by the light receiving unit and a waveform of the light emitting unit. The correction unit corrects a difference in the distance between the adjacent regions of the reflected light using a distance measuring value in the overlapping portion measured by the measuring unit.

Generally, in a case where a plurality of light sources are disposed, regions irradiated by the light sources can be brought closer to each other by disposing the plurality of light sources closer to each other. Thus, the plurality of light sources are collectively disposed closer to each other. However, in a case where a light source including a plurality of divided light emitting sections is used, a difference in overlapping between each light emitting section and a light receiving region is noticeable. Accordingly, an unnecessary irradiation time may occur.

Aspects of non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a distance measuring apparatus that can reduce a decrease in the number of divided light emitting sections within an angle of view of a light receiving unit compared to a case where a plurality of light sources each including a plurality of divided light emitting sections are collectively disposed on only one side of the light receiving unit.

Aspects of certain non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure overcome the above disadvantages and/or other disadvantages not described above. However, aspects of the non-limiting embodiments are not required to overcome the disadvantages described above, and aspects of the non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure may not overcome any of the disadvantages described above.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a distance measuring apparatus including a light source unit in which plural light sources each including plural divided light emitting sections are disposed, and the plural light sources irradiate different regions, respectively, a light receiving unit that receives reflected light of light emitted from the plural light sources to a detection target object, and a distance measuring unit that performs distance measuring of the detection target object in accordance with a waveform of the light received by the light receiving unit, in which the plural light sources of the light source unit are disposed with the light receiving unit interposed among the plural light sources.

Hereinafter, an example of an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Identical or equivalent constituents and parts are designated by identical reference symbols in each drawing. In each drawing, one determined direction may be referred to as an X direction, and a direction orthogonal to the one direction may be referred to as a Y direction. Dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for convenience of description and may be different from actual ratios.

1 FIG. 10 illustrates a configuration of a distance measuring apparatusaccording to a first exemplary embodiment.

1 FIG. 10 12 40 12 14 16 As illustrated in, the distance measuring apparatusincludes an optical deviceand a control unit. The optical deviceincludes a light source unitand a light receiving unit.

14 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 24 The light source unitincludes a plurality of (for example, four) light sourcesA,B,C, andD, and the plurality of light sourcesA,B,C, andD irradiate different regions, respectively. Each of the light sourcesA,B,C, andD includes a plurality of divided light emitting sections.

22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 For example, the light sourcesA,B,C, andD are configured with VCSELs. The VCSELs are semiconductor laser array elements capable of emitting a beam in a direction perpendicular to a substrate surface. In the first exemplary embodiment, the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD will be referred to as the light sourcesA,B,C, andD in a case where distinction among the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD is necessary. The four light sourcesA,B,C, andD may be referred to as the light sourceswithout A, B, C, and D after reference symbolin a case where the distinction among the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD is not necessary.

16 22 22 22 22 16 22 22 22 22 14 16 The light receiving unitreceives reflected light of light emitted from the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD to a detection target object (not illustrated). The light receiving unitincludes a sensor array including a plurality of pixels. Disposition of the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD of the light source unitand the light receiving unitwill be described in detail later.

40 42 44 40 22 22 22 22 14 16 The control unitincludes a driving control unitand a distance measuring unit. The control unitis electrically connected to each of the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD of the light source unitand the light receiving unit.

42 22 22 22 22 14 42 16 The driving control unitcontrols driving of the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD of the light source unit. The driving control unitalso controls driving of the light receiving unit.

44 16 The distance measuring unitperforms distance measuring of the detection target object in accordance with a waveform of the light received by the light receiving unit. Here, “distance measuring” refers to measuring of a distance to the detection target object. That is, the distance measuring apparatus of the present disclosure is a distance measurement apparatus that measures the distance to the detection target object.

44 16 22 22 22 22 14 The distance measuring unitis an optical distance measuring device that obtains an image of the distance to the detection target object by calculating a difference in time or a difference in phase between waveforms measured in each pixel of the light receiving unitand waveforms of the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD of the light source unit.

2 FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the distance measuring apparatusaccording to the first exemplary embodiment.

2 FIG. 10 40 12 As illustrated in, the distance measuring apparatusincludes the control unitand the optical device.

40 51 52 53 54 55 56 59 The control unitincludes each configuration of a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a storage, an input/output interface, and a communication unit. These configurations are connected to be capable of communicating with each other via a bus.

12 14 16 14 22 10 10 The optical deviceincludes the light source unitand the light receiving unit. The light source unitincludes the plurality of (for example, four) light sources. The hardware configuration of the distance measuring apparatusrelated to the present disclosure is illustrated, and the distance measuring apparatusmay include other configurations.

51 51 51 52 54 53 51 52 54 52 54 51 44 16 22 22 22 22 14 The CPUis a central processing unit and executes various programs or controls each unit. The CPUis an example of a processor. That is, the CPUreads a program from the ROMor the storageand executes the program using the RAMas a work region. The CPUcontrols each of the configurations and performs various types of operation processing in accordance with the program stored in the ROMor the storage. In the first present exemplary embodiment, the ROMor the storagestores a distance measuring processing program. The CPUfunctions as the distance measuring unitthat obtains the image of the distance to the detection target object by calculating the difference in time or the difference in phase between the waveforms measured in each pixel of the light receiving unitand the waveforms of the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD of the light source unit.

52 53 54 The ROMstores various programs and various types of data. The RAMtemporarily stores a program or data as the work region. The storageis configured with a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD) and stores various programs including an operating system and various types of data.

55 10 51 22 14 16 55 The input/output interfaceis an interface for transmitting and receiving information and the like to and from each constituent mounted in the distance measuring apparatus. The CPUcontrols operations of the plurality of (for example, four) light sourcesin the light source unitand the light receiving unitvia the input/output interface.

56 56 56 10 The communication unitis an interface for communicating with other apparatuses and, for example, uses a standard such as Ethernet (registered trademark), FDDI, or Wi-Fi (registered trademark). For example, the communication unitcan communicate with a user terminal as another apparatus. The communication unitmay display a measuring result of the distance to the detection target object from the distance measuring apparatuson the user terminal by transmitting the measuring result to the user terminal.

Here, a distance measuring apparatus of a first comparative example and a distance measuring apparatus of a second comparative example will be described.

11 FIG.A 11 FIG.B 800 800 is a perspective view illustrating a situation on a projection surface of a distance measuring apparatusof the first comparative example, andis a side view illustrating the situation on the projection surface of the distance measuring apparatusof the first comparative example.

11 FIG.B 800 802 804 802 804 802 804 802 As illustrated in, the distance measuring apparatusincludes a light sourceand a light receiving unit. The light sourceirradiates the detection target object with light. The light receiving unitreceives reflected light of the light emitted from the light sourceto the detection target object. The light receiving unitis disposed adjacent to one side of the light source.

802 804 802 812 802 813 802 802 804 11 FIG.A The light sourcehas a transmission (Tx) function, and the light receiving unithas a reception (Rx) function. The light sourceincludes a plurality of divided light emitting sections. Thus, an irradiation regionof the light sourceis configured with irradiation sectionscorresponding to the light emitting sections (see). In a case where the light sourceincluding the plurality of light emitting sections is used, mechanical disposition of the light sourceand the light receiving unitmay affect a sensible angle of view or boundaries of the angle of view and further affect power consumption.

800 810 802 820 804 812 802 822 804 814 804 802 804 812 822 824 11 FIG.B 11 11 FIGS.A andB 11 FIG.B In the distance measuring apparatus, an angle of view (FoI)of the light sourceis generally set to be larger than an angle of view (FoV)of the light receiving unit(see). The angle of view indicates an angular range of a space captured in the image. Thus, as illustrated in, the irradiation regionof the light sourceis larger than a light receiving regionof the light receiving unit. In addition, light with which the outside of the angle of view (FoV)of the image of the distance acquired by the light receiving unitis irradiated is unnecessary light that is irrelevant to the distance measuring. Even in a case where spatial disposition of the light sourceand the light receiving unitis devised, the irradiation regionand the light receiving regioncannot coincide with each other, and an invalid region(see) has to be allowed.

802 812 820 810 820 In a case where the light sourceincluding the plurality of light emitting sections is used, in order to maximize noise removal performance achieved by dividing the irradiation region, irradiation needs to be performed by dividing the angle of view (FoV)as evenly as possible, in addition to bringing the angle of view (FoI)and the angle of view (FoV)closer to each other.

12 FIG.A 12 FIG.B 902 900 900 is a configuration diagram illustrating an optical deviceof a distance measuring apparatusof the second comparative example, andis a diagram illustrating a situation on a projection surface of the distance measuring apparatusof the second comparative example. The situation on the projection surface is a state where the detection target object is projected to an expected surface.

12 FIG.A 902 900 914 916 914 922 922 922 922 922 922 922 922 922 922 922 922 924 922 922 922 922 924 924 924 As illustrated in, the optical deviceof the distance measuring apparatusof the second comparative example includes a light source unitand a light receiving unit. In the light source unit, four light sourcesA,B,C, andD are disposed, and the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD irradiate different regions, respectively. Each of the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD includes a plurality of divided light emitting sections. The four light sourcesA,B,C, andD have equal shapes and equal disposition of the light emitting sections. The light emitting sectionshave rectangular shapes that are long in the Y direction. Total 12 light emitting sectionsof two columns in the Y direction and six columns in the X direction are disposed.

922 922 922 922 916 922 922 922 922 916 The four light sourcesA,B,C, andD are disposed on only one side of the light receiving unitin the Y direction. That is, the light sourcesA andB and the light sourcesC andD are disposed in two columns on one side of the light receiving unitin the Y direction.

900 11 914 12 916 11 914 12 916 In the distance measuring apparatus, a centroid Gof the light source unitand a centroid Gof the light receiving unitdo not overlap with each other. That is, the centroid Gof the light source unitand the centroid Gof the light receiving unitare positioned away from each other in the Y direction.

12 FIG.B 930 914 940 916 900 930 932 932 932 932 922 922 922 922 930 933 932 932 930 934 932 932 930 935 932 932 930 936 932 932 932 932 932 932 930 As illustrated in, an irradiation regionof the light source unitis larger than a light receiving regionof the light receiving uniton the projection surface of the distance measuring apparatus. The irradiation regionis the whole irradiation range of irradiation regionsA,B,C, andD irradiated with light from the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD, respectively. For example, in the irradiation region, an overlapping portionin which the irradiation regionA and the irradiation regionB overlap with each other in adjacent regions is formed. In addition, in the irradiation region, an overlapping portionin which the irradiation regionA and the irradiation regionC overlap with each other in adjacent regions is formed. In addition, in the irradiation region, an overlapping portionin which the irradiation regionC and the irradiation regionD overlap with each other in adjacent regions is formed. Furthermore, in the irradiation region, an overlapping portionin which the irradiation regionB and the irradiation regionD overlap with each other in adjacent regions is formed. All of the irradiation regionsA,B,C, andD overlap with each other in a center portion of the irradiation region.

932 932 932 932 938 924 Each of the irradiation regionsA,B,C, andD is configured with irradiation sectionscorresponding to the plurality of light emitting sections.

922 922 922 922 922 922 922 922 922 922 922 922 900 922 922 922 922 916 922 922 922 922 924 924 940 924 916 940 In a case where the plurality of light sourcesA,B,C, andD are disposed, regions irradiated by the light sourcesA,B,C, andD can be brought closer to each other by disposing the plurality of light sourcesA,B,C, andD closer to each other. Thus, in the distance measuring apparatus, the plurality of light sourcesA,B,C, andD are collectively disposed on one direction side of the light receiving unit. However, in a case where the light sourcesA,B,C, andD each including the plurality of divided light emitting sectionsare used, a difference in overlapping between each light emitting sectionand the light receiving regionis noticeable. Accordingly, an unnecessary irradiation time may occur. In addition, the number of divided light emitting sectionswithin an angle of view of the light receiving unit(for example, see the light receiving region) may be decreased.

22 22 22 22 14 16 10 Next, disposition of the plurality of (for example, four) light sourcesA,B,C, andD of the light source unitand the light receiving unitin the distance measuring apparatusof the first exemplary embodiment will be described.

3 FIG.A 3 FIG.B 12 10 10 is a configuration diagram illustrating the optical deviceof the distance measuring apparatusof the first exemplary embodiment, andis a diagram illustrating a situation on a projection surface of the distance measuring apparatusof the first exemplary embodiment.

1 3 FIGS.andA 10 14 22 22 22 22 16 22 22 22 22 16 22 22 22 22 14 16 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 16 22 22 22 22 16 22 22 22 22 As illustrated in, in distance measuring apparatus, the light source unitincludes four light sourcesA,B,C, andD. One light receiving unitis disposed. Here, the light sourcesA,B,C, andD refer to regions surrounding the outermost portion of only parts in which light is emitted. The light receiving unitrefers to a region surrounding the outermost portion of only a part in which light is received. The four light sourcesA,B,C, andD of the light source unitare disposed with the light receiving unitinterposed among the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD. For example, the light sourcesA,B,C, andD are disposed with the light receiving unitinterposed among the light sourcesA,B,C, andD in the Y direction and are disposed with the light receiving unitnot interposed among the light sourcesA,B,C, andD in the X direction orthogonal to the Y direction. In the first exemplary embodiment, the Y direction is an example of a first direction, and the X direction is an example of a second direction.

22 22 22 22 16 22 22 16 22 22 16 For example, the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD are evenly disposed on both sides of the light receiving unit. For example, the light sourcesA andB are disposed on one side in the Y direction in which the light receiving unitis interposed, and the light sourcesC andD are disposed on the other side in the Y direction in which the light receiving unitis interposed.

22 22 22 22 24 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 Each of the light sourcesA,B,C, andD has the same size and is configured such that the plurality of light emitting sectionshave the same shape and disposition. For example, the light sourcesA,B,C, andD have rectangular shapes. Definitions of rectangles of the light sourcesA,B,C, andD will be described later.

24 22 22 22 22 24 24 10 22 22 22 22 24 16 24 For example, the light emitting sectionshave rectangular shapes and have long shapes of which a length in the X direction is longer than a length in the Y direction. Each of the light sourcesA,B,C, andD includes 12 light emitting sections. The light emitting sectionsare disposed in two columns in the X direction and six columns in the Y direction. In the distance measuring apparatus, the light sourcesA,B,C, andD are disposed such that long sides of the light emitting sectionsface each other with the light receiving unitinterposed among the light emitting sections.

16 22 22 22 22 16 16 22 22 16 22 22 16 For example, the light receiving unithas a rectangular shape. The four light sourcesA,B,C, andD are disposed on both sides of the light receiving unitat a distance corresponding to a short side of the light receiving unit. Two light sourcesA andB are disposed along a long side of the light receiving unit, and two light sourcesC andD are disposed along the long side of the light receiving unit.

10 1 14 2 16 1 14 2 16 1 14 2 16 1 14 2 16 1 14 2 16 1 14 16 16 2 16 2 16 1 14 16 16 16 16 In the distance measuring apparatus, a centroid Oof the light source unitcoincides with a centroid Gof the light receiving unit. The centroid Oof the light source unitand the centroid Gof the light receiving unitare substantially close to the center of the drawing. In the gist of the present disclosure, the centroid Oof the light source unitcoincides with the centroid Gof the light receiving unitnot only in a case where the centroid Oof the light source unitcompletely coincides with the centroid Gof the light receiving unitbut also in a case where the centroid Oof the light source unitslightly deviates from the centroid Gof the light receiving unit. In the case of slight deviation, for example, the centroid Oof the light source unitis, for example, within 10% of a dimension of the light receiving unitin the Y direction and within 10% of a dimension of the light receiving unitin the X direction with respect to the center Gof the light receiving unit. In addition, for example, with respect to the centroid Gof the light receiving unit, the centroid Oof the light source unitis, for example, within 5% of the dimension of the light receiving unitin the Y direction and within 5% of the dimension of the light receiving unitin the X direction, and, for example, within 3% of the dimension of the light receiving unitin the Y direction and within 3% of the dimension of the light receiving unitin the X direction.

22 22 22 22 14 22 22 22 22 16 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 1 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 16 1 22 22 22 22 2 16 1 22 22 22 22 1 14 22 22 22 22 Disposition of the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD of the light source unitis, for example, disposition in which a sum total of distances between the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD and the light receiving unitis smaller than a sum total of distances among the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD. In the first exemplary embodiment, the sum total of the distances among the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD does not include distances between diagonally disposed light sources among the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD. The sum total of the distances among the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD is, for example, a sum total of distances among the centroids Gof the each of the light sourcesA,B,C, andD. The sum total of the distances between the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD and the light receiving unitis, for example, a sum total of distances between the centroids Gof each of the light sourcesA,B,C, andD and the centroid Gof the light receiving unit. The centroids Gof each of the light sourcesA,B,C, andD and the centroid Oof the light source unitincluding the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD will be described later.

10 1 14 2 16 22 22 22 22 14 16 22 22 22 22 14 16 24 16 In the distance measuring apparatus, the centroid Gof the light source unitand the centroid Gof the light receiving unitare caused to coincide with each other by disposing the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD of the light source unitwith the light receiving unitinterposed among the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD. Accordingly, since the angle of view (FoI) of the light source unitand the angle of view (FoV) of the light receiving unitcan be brought closer to each other, the light emitting sectionscan be efficiently disposed within the angle of view (FoV) of the light receiving unit.

22 22 22 22 16 10 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 3 FIG.B In a direction (for example, the Y direction) in which the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD are disposed on both sides of the light receiving unit, an irradiation gap is likely to occur at a center in a short distance (for example, a center in the Y direction). Thus, in the distance measuring apparatus, overlapping among irradiation angles of view of the light sourcesA,B,C, andD is set in the direction (for example, the Y direction) in which the irradiation gap at the center is likely to occur. Hereinafter, irradiation regions of the light sourcesA,B,C, andD will be described using.

3 FIG.B 70 14 80 16 10 70 72 72 72 72 22 22 22 22 72 72 72 72 10 72 72 22 22 72 72 22 22 16 16 As illustrated in, an irradiation regionof the light source unitis larger than a light receiving regionof the light receiving uniton the projection surface of the distance measuring apparatus. The irradiation regionis the whole irradiation range of irradiation regionsA,B,C, andD irradiated with light from the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD, respectively. The irradiation regionsA,B,C, andD are examples of the different regions. In the distance measuring apparatus, the irradiation regionsA andB of the light sourcesA andB on one side in the Y direction and the irradiation regionsC andD of the light sourcesC andD on the other side in the Y direction with respect to the light receiving unitare disposed to overlap with each other on a center portion side of the light receiving unit.

70 73 72 72 70 74 72 72 70 75 72 72 70 76 72 72 72 72 72 72 70 More specifically, in the irradiation region, an overlapping portionin which the irradiation regionA and the irradiation regionB overlap with each other in adjacent regions is formed. In addition, in the irradiation region, an overlapping portionin which the irradiation regionA and the irradiation regionC overlap with each other in adjacent regions is formed. In addition, in the irradiation region, an overlapping portionin which the irradiation regionC and the irradiation regionD overlap with each other in adjacent regions is formed. Furthermore, in the irradiation region, an overlapping portionin which the irradiation regionB and the irradiation regionD overlap with each other in adjacent regions is formed. All of the irradiation regionsA,B,C, andD overlap with each other in a center portion of the irradiation region.

72 72 72 72 78 24 Each of the irradiation regionsA,B,C, andD is configured with irradiation sectionscorresponding to the plurality of light emitting sections.

10 24 24 72 72 72 72 74 76 78 24 24 In the distance measuring apparatus, one light emitting sectionis turned off in a part in which the light emitting sectionsoverlap with each other in the irradiation regionsA,B,C, andD. For example, in the overlapping portionand the overlapping portion, the irradiation sectionsof the light emitting sectionsoverlap with each other. Thus, one light emitting sectionis turned off.

Next, the definition of the rectangle of the light source and a position of the centroid of the light source unit will be described.

4 FIG.A 4 FIG.A 90 90 91 91 90 91 is a plan view illustrating a light sourceof a first example. As illustrated in, in the light sourceof the first example, a plurality of light emitting pointsare arranged in a hexagonal lattice. For example, the light emitting pointsare configured with VCSELs. A rectangle of the light sourceis a rectangle surrounded by straight lines drawn parallel to a row direction and a column direction from centers of the light emitting pointspositioned at the outermost position.

4 FIG.B 4 FIG.B 94 94 91 94 91 is a plan view illustrating a light sourceof a second example. As illustrated in, in the light sourceof the second example, a plurality of light emitting pointsare arranged in a square lattice. A rectangle of the light sourceis a rectangle surrounded by straight lines drawn parallel to the row direction and the column direction from centers of the light emitting pointspositioned at the outermost position.

5 FIG.A 5 FIG.A 100 100 91 100 90 21 90 is a diagram illustrating a position of a centroid of a light source. As illustrated in, a die unit corresponds to one light source, and a rectangle surrounded by straight lines drawn parallel to the row direction and the column direction from the centers of the light emitting pointspositioned at the outermost position is a rectangle of the light sourcein a two-dimensional view. A center of the rectangle of the light sourceis a position of a centroid G. An area of the rectangle of the light sourceis denoted by Si.

5 FIG.B 5 FIG.B 102 102 100 100 16 100 16 100 16 is a diagram illustrating a position of a centroid of a light source unit. As illustrated in, the light source unitincludes a plurality of (for example, four) light sources. The four light sourcesare disposed on both sides of the rectangular light receiving unitin one direction. That is, two light sourcesare disposed on one side of the light receiving unitin the one direction, and two light sourcesare disposed on the other side of the light receiving unitin the one direction.

100 21 100 102 2 5 FIG.B In a case where an area of the rectangle of each light sourceis denoted by Si, and a distance from the centroid Gof each light sourceto any point O is denoted by li, a second moment of area is defined as φ=min·(Σ(Si×li)) (min. means minimum). Any point Oa satisfying p is defined as a centroid of the second moment of area. That is, the centroid O of the light source unitillustrated inis the centroid of the second moment of area.

1 14 3 FIG.A The centroid Oof the light source unitillustrated inis also the centroid of the second moment of area.

Next, actions and effects of the first exemplary embodiment will be described.

10 14 16 14 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 16 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 14 16 22 22 22 22 51 40 16 The distance measuring apparatusincludes the light source unitand the light receiving unit. In the light source unit, the plurality of (for example, four) light sourcesA,B,C, andD are disposed, and the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD irradiate different regions, respectively. The light receiving unitreceives the reflected light of the light emitted from the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD to the detection target object. The four light sourcesA,B,C, andD of the light source unitare disposed with the light receiving unitinterposed among the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD. The CPUof the control unitperforms the distance measuring of the detection target object (that is, measures the distance to the detection target object) in accordance with the waveform of the light received by the light receiving unit.

12 FIG.A 900 922 922 922 922 922 922 922 922 922 922 922 922 916 Generally, in a case where a plurality of light sources are disposed, regions irradiated by the light sources can be brought closer to each other by disposing the plurality of light sources closer to each other. Thus, the plurality of light sources are collectively disposed closer to each other. For example, as illustrated in, in the distance measuring apparatusof the second comparative example, the regions irradiated by the light sourcesA,B,C, andD can be brought closer to each other by disposing the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD closer to each other. Thus, the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD are collectively disposed on one side of the light receiving unit.

12 12 FIGS.A andB 922 922 922 922 924 924 940 924 940 924 916 940 However, in a case where the plurality of light sources are collectively disposed closer to each other, a difference in overlapping between each light emitting section and the light receiving region is noticeable in a case where a light source including a plurality of divided light emitting sections is used. For example, as illustrated in, in a case where the light sourcesA,B,C, andD each including the plurality of divided light emitting sectionsare used, a difference in overlapping between each light emitting sectionand the light receiving regionis noticeable. Accordingly, an unnecessary irradiation time may occur. In addition, since the difference in overlapping between each light emitting sectionand the light receiving regionis noticeable, the number of divided light emitting sectionswithin the angle of view of the light receiving unit(for example, the light receiving region) may be reduced.

10 22 22 22 22 24 24 80 3 3 FIGS.A andB Meanwhile, in the distance measuring apparatusof the first exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in, in a case where the light sourcesA,B,C, andD each including the plurality of divided light emitting sectionsare used, a difference in overlapping between each light emitting sectionand the light receiving regionalmost does not occur.

10 24 16 Thus, in the distance measuring apparatus, a decrease in the number of divided light emitting sectionswithin the angle of view of the light receiving unitmay be reduced compared to a case where a plurality of light sources each including a plurality of divided light emitting sections are collectively disposed on one side of a light receiving unit.

10 1 14 2 16 10 24 16 24 16 11 914 12 916 12 12 FIGS.A andB In the distance measuring apparatus, the centroid Oof the light source unitcoincides with the centroid Gof the light receiving unit. Thus, in the distance measuring apparatus, a decrease in the number of divided light emitting sectionswithin the angle of view of the light receiving unitmay be reduced compared to a case where the centroid of the light source unit is separated from the centroid of the light receiving unit. For example, as illustrated in, a decrease in the number of divided light emitting sectionswithin the angle of view of the light receiving unitmay be reduced compared to a case where the centroid Gof the light source unitis separated from the centroid Gof the light receiving unit.

22 14 22 22 22 22 16 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 1 22 22 22 22 2 16 1 22 22 22 22 10 24 16 Disposition of the plurality of (for example, four) light sourcesof the light source unitis disposition in which the sum total of the distances between the light sourcesA,B,C, andD and the light receiving unitis smaller than the sum total of the distances among the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD. In the first exemplary embodiment, the sum total of the distances among the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD does not include distances between diagonally disposed light sources among the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD. For example, the sum total of the distances between the centroids Gof the light sourcesA,B,C, andD and the centroid Gof the light receiving unitis smaller than the sum total of the distances among the centroids Gof the plurality of light sourcesA,B,C, andD. Thus, in the distance measuring apparatus, a decrease in the number of divided light emitting sectionswithin the angle of view of the light receiving unitmay be reduced compared to a case where disposition of a plurality of light sources is disposition in which a sum total of distances between the light sources and a light receiving unit is larger than a sum total of distances among the plurality of light sources.

10 14 22 22 16 22 16 22 10 24 16 22 16 22 16 22 In the distance measuring apparatus, the light source unitincludes four or more light sources. The light sourcesare disposed with the light receiving unitinterposed among the light sourcesin the Y direction and are disposed with the light receiving unitnot interposed among the light sourcesin the X direction orthogonal to the Y direction. Thus, in the distance measuring apparatus, a decrease in the number of divided light emitting sectionswithin the angle of view of the light receiving unitmay be reduced in the configuration in which the light sourcesare disposed with the light receiving unitinterposed among the light sourcesin the Y direction and are disposed with the light receiving unitnot interposed among the light sourcesin the X direction orthogonal to the Y direction.

10 24 22 24 16 24 72 72 22 22 72 72 22 22 16 16 10 22 22 22 22 16 In the distance measuring apparatus, the light emitting sectionshave rectangular shapes, and the light sourcesare disposed such that the long sides of the light emitting sectionsface each other with the light receiving unitinterposed among the light emitting sections. Furthermore, the irradiation regionsA andB of the light sourcesA andB on one side and the irradiation regionsC andD of the light sourcesC andD on the other side with respect to the light receiving unitare disposed to overlap with each other on the center portion side of the light receiving unit. Thus, in the distance measuring apparatus, occurrence of the irradiation gap among the plurality of light sourcesA,B,C, andD in the center portion of the light receiving unitis reduced compared to a case where light emitting sections closer to a light receiving unit do not overlap with each other in an irradiation region.

10 24 24 72 72 72 72 10 In the distance measuring apparatus, one light emitting sectionis turned off in the part in which the light emitting sectionsoverlap with each other in the irradiation regionsA,B,C, andD. Thus, in the distance measuring apparatus, power consumption can be reduced compared to a case where both of light emitting sections emit light in a part in which the light emitting sections overlap with each other in an irradiation region.

10 22 22 22 22 16 10 24 16 In the distance measuring apparatus, the plurality of light sourcesA,B,C, andD are evenly disposed on both sides of the light receiving unit. Thus, in the distance measuring apparatus, a decrease in the number of divided light emitting sectionswithin the angle of view of the light receiving unitmay be reduced compared to a case where a plurality of light sources are disposed at different positions on both sides of a light receiving unit.

10 16 22 22 22 22 16 16 10 22 22 22 22 16 In the distance measuring apparatus, the light receiving unithas a rectangular shape. Furthermore, the plurality of light sourcesA,B,C, andD are disposed on both sides of the light receiving unitat the distance corresponding to the short side of the light receiving unit. Thus, in the distance measuring apparatus, the occurrence of the irradiation gap among the plurality of light sourcesA,B,C, andD in the center portion of the light receiving unitis reduced compared to a case where a plurality of light sources are disposed on both sides of a light receiving unit at a distance corresponding to a long side of the light receiving unit.

10 22 16 22 22 16 22 22 16 10 24 16 In the distance measuring apparatus, the plurality of light sourcesare disposed along the long side of the light receiving unit. For example, two light sourcesA andB are disposed along the long side of the light receiving unit, and two light sourcesC andD are disposed along the long side of the light receiving unit. Thus, in the distance measuring apparatus, a decrease in the number of divided light emitting sectionswithin the angle of view of the light receiving unitmay be reduced compared to a case where one light source is disposed along a long side of a light receiving unit.

Next, a distance measuring apparatus according to a second exemplary embodiment will be described. Constituents identical to the first exemplary embodiment described above will be denoted by identical reference symbols and will not be described.

6 FIG.A 6 FIG.B 112 110 110 is a configuration diagram illustrating an optical deviceof a distance measuring apparatusof the second exemplary embodiment, andis a diagram illustrating a situation on a projection surface of the distance measuring apparatusof the second exemplary embodiment.

6 FIG.A 110 114 122 122 122 122 14 10 124 110 122 122 122 122 122 122 16 122 122 16 14 10 As illustrated in, in the distance measuring apparatus, a light source unitincludes four light sourcesA,B,C, andD, and this point is the same as the light source unitof the distance measuring apparatusaccording to the first exemplary embodiment. However, shapes and disposition of light emitting sectionsare different. In the distance measuring apparatus, the light sourcesA,B,C, andD have rectangular shapes and have the same size. The light sourcesA andB are disposed on one side in the Y direction in which the light receiving unitis interposed, and the light sourcesC andD are disposed on the other side in the Y direction in which the light receiving unitis interposed. This point is the same as the light source unitof the distance measuring apparatusof the first exemplary embodiment.

124 14 10 122 122 122 122 124 124 The light emitting sectionshave rectangular shapes of which a length in the Y direction is longer than a length in the X direction. This point is different from the light source unitof the distance measuring apparatusof the first exemplary embodiment. Each of the light sourcesA,B,C, andD includes 12 light emitting sections. The light emitting sectionsare disposed in six columns in the X direction and two columns in the Y direction.

110 124 124 16 124 In the distance measuring apparatus, the light emitting sectionsare disposed such that short sides of the light emitting sectionsface each other with the light receiving unitinterposed among the light emitting sections.

110 2 114 122 122 122 122 2 16 In the distance measuring apparatus, a centroid Oof the light source unitincluding the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD coincides with the centroid Gof the light receiving unit.

6 FIG.B 130 114 140 16 110 110 132 132 122 122 132 132 122 122 16 16 132 132 132 132 As illustrated in, an irradiation regionof the light source unitis larger than a light receiving regionof the light receiving uniton the projection surface of the distance measuring apparatus. In the distance measuring apparatus, irradiation regionsA andB of the light sourcesA andB on one side in the Y direction and irradiation regionsC andD of the light sourcesC andD on the other side in the Y direction with respect to the light receiving unitare disposed to overlap with each other on the center portion side of the light receiving unit. The irradiation regionsA,B,C, andD are examples of the different regions.

130 133 132 132 130 134 132 132 130 135 132 132 130 136 132 132 More specifically, in the irradiation region, an overlapping portionin which the irradiation regionA and the irradiation regionB overlap with each other in adjacent regions is formed. In addition, in the irradiation region, an overlapping portionin which the irradiation regionA and the irradiation regionC overlap with each other in adjacent regions is formed. In addition, in the irradiation region, an overlapping portionin which the irradiation regionC and the irradiation regionD overlap with each other in adjacent regions is formed. Furthermore, in the irradiation region, an overlapping portionin which the irradiation regionB and the irradiation regionD overlap with each other in adjacent regions is formed.

132 132 132 132 138 124 124 140 16 110 10 Each of the irradiation regionsA,B,C, andD is configured with irradiation sectionscorresponding to the plurality of light emitting sections. At least a part of all of the light emitting sectionsfalls within the light receiving regionof the light receiving unit. Other configurations of the distance measuring apparatusof the second exemplary embodiment are the same as the configurations of the distance measuring apparatusof the first exemplary embodiment.

110 10 In the distance measuring apparatusof the second exemplary embodiment, the following actions and effects are obtained in addition to the actions and effects of the same configuration as the distance measuring apparatusof the first exemplary embodiment.

110 124 124 16 124 124 140 16 110 124 16 In the distance measuring apparatus, the light emitting sectionshave rectangular shapes and are disposed such that the short sides of the light emitting sectionsface each other with the light receiving unitinterposed among the light emitting sections. Furthermore, at least a part of all of the light emitting sectionsfalls within the light receiving regionof the light receiving unit. Thus, in the distance measuring apparatus, a decrease in the number of divided light emitting sectionswithin the angle of view of the light receiving unitmay be reduced compared to a case where a part of light emitting sections does not fall within a light receiving region of a light receiving unit.

Next, a distance measuring apparatus according to a third exemplary embodiment will be described. Constituents identical to the first and second exemplary embodiments described above will be denoted by identical reference symbols and will not be described.

7 FIG.A 7 FIG.B 212 210 210 is a configuration diagram illustrating an optical deviceof a distance measuring apparatusof the third exemplary embodiment, andis a diagram illustrating a situation on a projection surface of the distance measuring apparatusof the third exemplary embodiment.

7 FIG.A 210 214 222 222 222 222 14 10 222 222 222 222 16 222 222 222 222 16 222 222 222 222 16 222 222 222 222 As illustrated in, in the distance measuring apparatus, a light source unitincludes four light sourcesA,B,C, andD, and this point is the same as the light source unitof the distance measuring apparatusaccording to the first exemplary embodiment. However, directions in which the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD are disposed with respect to the light receiving unitare different. The light sourcesA,B,C, andD are disposed with the light receiving unitinterposed among the light sourcesA,B,C, andD in the X direction and are disposed with the light receiving unitnot interposed among the light sourcesA,B,C, andD in the Y direction orthogonal to the X direction. In the third exemplary embodiment, the X direction is an example of the first direction, and the Y direction is an example of the second direction.

222 222 222 222 16 222 222 16 222 222 16 For example, the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD are evenly disposed on both sides of the light receiving unit. For example, the light sourcesA andB are disposed on one side in the X direction in which the light receiving unitis interposed, and the light sourcesC andD are disposed on the other side in the X direction in which the light receiving unitis interposed.

222 222 222 222 222 222 222 222 24 The light sourcesA,B,C, andD have rectangular shapes. Each of the light sourcesA,B,C, andD includes a plurality of light emitting sections, as in the first exemplary embodiment.

210 222 222 222 222 24 16 24 In the distance measuring apparatus, the light sourcesA,B,C, andD are disposed such that short sides of the light emitting sectionsface each other with the light receiving unitinterposed among the light emitting sections.

16 222 222 222 222 16 16 222 222 16 222 222 16 The light receiving unithas a rectangular shape, and the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD are disposed on both sides of the light receiving unitat a distance corresponding to the long side of the light receiving unit. Two light sourcesA andC are disposed along the short side of the light receiving unit, and two light sourcesB andD are disposed along the short side of the light receiving unit.

210 3 214 222 222 222 222 2 16 In the distance measuring apparatus, a centroid Oof the light source unitincluding the four light sourcesA,B,C, andD coincides with the centroid Gof the light receiving unit.

7 FIG.B 230 214 240 16 210 210 232 232 222 222 232 232 222 222 16 16 232 232 232 232 As illustrated in, an irradiation regionof the light source unitis larger than a light receiving regionof the light receiving uniton the projection surface of the distance measuring apparatus. In the distance measuring apparatus, irradiation regionsA andC of the light sourcesA andC on one side in the X direction and irradiation regionsB andD of the light sourcesB andD on the other side in the X direction with respect to the light receiving unitare disposed to overlap with each other on the center portion side of the light receiving unit. The irradiation regionsA,B,C, andD are examples of the different regions.

230 233 232 232 230 234 232 232 230 235 232 232 230 236 232 232 More specifically, in the irradiation region, an overlapping portionin which the irradiation regionA and the irradiation regionB overlap with each other in adjacent regions is formed. In addition, in the irradiation region, an overlapping portionin which the irradiation regionA and the irradiation regionC overlap with each other in adjacent regions is formed. In addition, in the irradiation region, an overlapping portionin which the irradiation regionC and the irradiation regionD overlap with each other in adjacent regions is formed. Furthermore, in the irradiation region, an overlapping portionin which the irradiation regionB and the irradiation regionD overlap with each other in adjacent regions is formed.

232 232 232 232 78 24 210 10 Each of the irradiation regionsA,B,C, andD is configured with irradiation sectionscorresponding to the plurality of light emitting sections. Other configurations of the distance measuring apparatusof the third exemplary embodiment are the same as the configurations of the distance measuring apparatusof the first exemplary embodiment.

210 10 In the distance measuring apparatusof the third exemplary embodiment, the following actions and effects are obtained in addition to the actions and effects of the same configuration as the distance measuring apparatusof the first exemplary embodiment.

210 16 222 222 222 222 16 16 222 222 16 222 222 16 210 24 16 In the distance measuring apparatus, the light receiving unithas a rectangular shape, and the plurality of (for example, four) light sourcesA,B,C, andD are disposed on both sides of the light receiving unitat the distance corresponding to the long side of the light receiving unit. Two light sourcesA andC are disposed along the short side of the light receiving unit, and two light sourcesB andD are disposed along the short side of the light receiving unit. Thus, in the distance measuring apparatus, a decrease in the number of divided light emitting sectionswithin the angle of view of the light receiving unitmay be reduced compared to a case where one light source is disposed along a short side of a light receiving unit.

Next, a distance measuring apparatus according to a fourth exemplary embodiment will be described. Constituents identical to the first to third exemplary embodiments described above will be denoted by identical reference symbols and will not be described.

8 FIG.A 8 FIG.B 312 310 310 is a configuration diagram illustrating an optical deviceof a distance measuring apparatusof the fourth exemplary embodiment, andis a diagram illustrating a situation on a projection surface of the distance measuring apparatusof the fourth exemplary embodiment.

8 FIG.A 310 314 322 322 322 322 322 322 14 10 324 24 10 As illustrated in, in the distance measuring apparatus, a light source unitincludes six light sourcesA,B,C,D,E, andF, and this point is different from the light source unitof the distance measuring apparatusof the first exemplary embodiment. Furthermore, a plurality of light emitting sectionshave different disposition and shapes from the light emitting sectionsof the distance measuring apparatusof the first exemplary embodiment.

310 322 322 322 322 322 322 16 322 322 322 16 322 322 322 16 322 322 322 322 322 322 16 16 In the distance measuring apparatus, the six light sourcesA,B,C,D,E, andF are evenly disposed on both sides of the light receiving unit. The light sourcesA,B, andC are disposed on one side in the Y direction in which the light receiving unitis interposed, and the light sourcesD,E, andF are disposed on the other side in the Y direction in which the light receiving unitis interposed. For example, the six light sourcesA,B,C,D,E, andF are disposed on both sides of the light receiving unitat the distance corresponding to the short side of the light receiving unit.

324 322 322 322 322 322 322 324 324 The light emitting sectionshave rectangular shapes of which a length in the Y direction is longer than a length in the X direction. Each of the light sourcesA,B,C,D,E, andF includes 12 light emitting sections. The light emitting sectionsare disposed in six columns in the X direction and two columns in the Y direction.

310 324 324 16 324 In the distance measuring apparatus, the light emitting sectionsare disposed such that short sides of the light emitting sectionsface each other with the light receiving unitinterposed among the light emitting sections.

310 4 314 322 322 322 322 322 322 2 16 In the distance measuring apparatus, a centroid Oof the light source unitincluding the six light sourcesA,B,C,D,E, andF coincides with the centroid Gof the light receiving unit.

8 FIG.B 330 314 340 16 310 310 332 332 332 322 322 322 332 332 332 322 322 322 16 16 332 332 332 332 332 332 As illustrated in, an irradiation regionof the light source unitis larger than a light receiving regionof the light receiving uniton the projection surface of the distance measuring apparatus. In the distance measuring apparatus, irradiation regionsA,B, andC of the light sourcesA,B, andC on one side in the Y direction and irradiation regionsD,E, andF of the light sourcesD,E, andF on the other side in the Y direction with respect to the light receiving unitare disposed to overlap with each other on the center portion side of the light receiving unit. The irradiation regionsA,B,C,D,E, andF are examples of the different regions.

330 334 334 334 334 334 334 334 332 332 332 332 332 332 In the irradiation region, overlapping portionsAB,AC,BC,BE,CF,DE, andEF are formed by causing the irradiation regionsA,B,C,D,E, andF to overlap with each other.

332 332 332 332 332 332 338 324 324 340 16 310 10 110 Each of the irradiation regionsA,B,C,D,E, andF is configured with irradiation sectionscorresponding to the plurality of light emitting sections. At least a part of all of the light emitting sectionsfalls within the light receiving regionof the light receiving unit. Other configurations of the distance measuring apparatusof the fourth exemplary embodiment are the same as the configurations of the distance measuring apparatusof the first exemplary embodiment and the distance measuring apparatusof the second exemplary embodiment.

310 10 110 In the distance measuring apparatusof the fourth exemplary embodiment, the same actions and effects are obtained by the same configurations as the distance measuring apparatusof the first exemplary embodiment and the distance measuring apparatusof the second exemplary embodiment.

Next, a distance measuring apparatus according to a fifth exemplary embodiment will be described. Constituents identical to the first to fourth exemplary embodiments described above will be denoted by identical reference symbols and will not be described.

9 FIG.A 9 FIG.B 412 410 410 is a configuration diagram illustrating an optical deviceof a distance measuring apparatusof the fifth exemplary embodiment, andis a diagram illustrating a situation on a projection surface of the distance measuring apparatusof the fifth exemplary embodiment.

9 FIG.A 410 414 422 422 14 10 214 210 As illustrated in, in the distance measuring apparatus, a light source unitincludes two light sourcesA andB, and this point is different from the light source unitof the distance measuring apparatusof the first exemplary embodiment and the light source unitof the distance measuring apparatusof the third exemplary embodiment.

410 422 422 16 422 422 16 16 In the distance measuring apparatus, the two light sourcesA andB are evenly disposed on both sides of the light receiving unitin the X direction. For example, the two light sourcesA andB are disposed on both sides of the light receiving unitat the distance corresponding to the long side of the light receiving unit.

424 422 422 424 424 424 424 16 424 Light emitting sectionshave rectangular shapes of which a length in the X direction is longer than a length in the Y direction. Each of the light sourcesA andB includes 12 light emitting sections. The light emitting sectionsare disposed in two columns in the X direction and six columns in the Y direction. The light emitting sectionsare disposed such that short sides of the light emitting sectionsface each other with the light receiving unitinterposed among the light emitting sections.

410 5 414 422 422 2 16 In the distance measuring apparatus, a centroid Oof the light source unitincluding the two light sourcesA andB coincides with the centroid Gof the light receiving unit.

9 FIG.B 430 414 440 16 410 410 432 422 432 422 16 16 432 432 As illustrated in, an irradiation regionof the light source unitis larger than a light receiving regionof the light receiving uniton the projection surface of the distance measuring apparatus. In the distance measuring apparatus, an irradiation regionA of the light sourceA on one side in the X direction and an irradiation regionB of the light sourceB on the other side in the X direction with respect to the light receiving unitare disposed to overlap with each other on the center portion side of the light receiving unit. The irradiation regionsA andB are examples of the different regions.

430 434 432 432 In the irradiation region, an overlapping portionis formed by causing the irradiation regionsA andB to overlap with each other.

432 432 438 424 424 440 16 410 10 210 Each of the irradiation regionsA andB is configured with irradiation sectionscorresponding to the plurality of light emitting sections. At least a part of all of the light emitting sectionsfalls within the light receiving regionof the light receiving unit. Other configurations of the distance measuring apparatusof the fifth exemplary embodiment are the same as the configurations of the distance measuring apparatusof the first exemplary embodiment and the distance measuring apparatusof the third exemplary embodiment.

410 10 210 In the distance measuring apparatusof the fifth exemplary embodiment, the same actions and effects are obtained by the same configurations as the configurations of the distance measuring apparatusof the first exemplary embodiment and the distance measuring apparatusof the third exemplary embodiment.

Next, a distance measuring apparatus according to a sixth exemplary embodiment will be described. Constituents identical to the first to fifth exemplary embodiments described above will be denoted by identical reference symbols and will not be described.

10 FIG.A 10 FIG.B 512 510 510 is a configuration diagram illustrating an optical deviceof a distance measuring apparatusof the sixth exemplary embodiment, andis a diagram illustrating a situation on a projection surface of the distance measuring apparatusof the sixth exemplary embodiment.

10 FIG.A 510 514 522 522 14 10 510 524 522 522 424 414 410 As illustrated in, in the distance measuring apparatus, a light source unitincludes two light sourcesA andB, and this point is different from the light source unitof the distance measuring apparatusof the first exemplary embodiment. In addition, in the distance measuring apparatus, light emitting sectionsof the two light sourcesA andB have different shapes and disposition from the light emitting sectionsof the light source unitof the distance measuring apparatusof the fifth exemplary embodiment.

510 522 522 16 522 522 16 16 In the distance measuring apparatus, the two light sourcesA andB are evenly disposed on both sides of the light receiving unitin the Y direction. For example, the two light sourcesA andB are disposed on both sides of the light receiving unitat the distance corresponding to the short side of the light receiving unit.

524 522 522 524 524 524 524 16 524 The light emitting sectionshave rectangular shapes of which a length in the Y direction is longer than a length in the X direction. Each of the light sourcesA andB includes six light emitting sections. The light emitting sectionsare disposed in six columns in the X direction. The light emitting sectionsare disposed such that short sides of the light emitting sectionsface each other with the light receiving unitinterposed among the light emitting sections.

510 6 514 522 522 2 16 In the distance measuring apparatus, a centroid Oof the light source unitincluding the two light sourcesA andB coincides with the centroid Gof the light receiving unit.

10 FIG.B 530 514 540 16 510 510 532 522 532 522 16 16 532 532 As illustrated in, an irradiation regionof the light source unitis larger than a light receiving regionof the light receiving uniton the projection surface of the distance measuring apparatus. In the distance measuring apparatus, an irradiation regionA of the light sourceA on one side in the Y direction and an irradiation regionB of the light sourceB on the other side in the Y direction with respect to the light receiving unitare disposed to overlap with each other on the center portion side of the light receiving unit. The irradiation regionsA andB are examples of the different regions.

530 534 532 532 In the irradiation region, an overlapping portionis formed by causing the irradiation regionsA andB to overlap with each other.

532 532 538 524 510 10 110 Each of the irradiation regionsA andB is configured with irradiation sectionscorresponding to the plurality of light emitting sections. Other configurations of the distance measuring apparatusof the sixth exemplary embodiment are the same as the configurations of the distance measuring apparatusof the first exemplary embodiment and the distance measuring apparatusof the second exemplary embodiment.

510 10 110 In the distance measuring apparatusof the sixth exemplary embodiment, the same actions and effects are obtained by the same configurations as the configurations of the distance measuring apparatusof the first exemplary embodiment and the distance measuring apparatusof the second exemplary embodiment.

While the present invention is described in detail with respect to specific exemplary embodiments, the present invention is not limited to such exemplary embodiments, and other various exemplary embodiments within the scope of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In the exemplary embodiments, the processes are performed by any computer. The computer may perform the processes by using a processor serving as hardware, a program serving as software, or combination of these. In this case, the processor is configured to perform the processes in the exemplary embodiments in cooperation with the program and may function as a unit or a means in the exemplary embodiments. The order in which the processor performs the processes is not limited to the described order and may be changed appropriately. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, an application specific computer, a workstation, or another system capable of performing the processes.

The processor may be composed of one or more pieces of hardware, and the type of the hardware is not limited. For example, the processor may be composed of hardware such as a central processing unit (CPU), a micro processing unit (MPU), a programmable logic device such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a dedicated circuit for performing specific processing such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or a neural processing unit (NPU). Regarding the type of the hardware, different types of hardware may be combined. If multiple pieces of hardware are configured to perform one or more processes of the processor, the multiple pieces of hardware may be present in apparatuses physically away from each other or may be present in one apparatus. In each of exemplary embodiments, the order in which the processor performs the processes is not limited to the order described above and may be changed appropriately. The hardware is composed of electric circuitry in which circuit elements such as semiconductor devices are combined, or the like.

Further, the program may be software such as firmware or microcode. The program may be, for example, a program module group, and the functions thereof may be implemented by processors configured to implement the respective functions. The program may be program code or multiple code segments stored in one or more non-transitory computer readable media (for example, a storage medium or another storage). The program may be stored in such a divided manner in multiple non-transitory computer readable media present in apparatuses physically away from each other. The program code or the code segments may represent a procedure, a function, a sub program, a routine, a subroutine, a module, a software package, a class or any combination of instructions, data structures, or program statements. The program code or the code segment may be connected to another code segment or a hardware circuit by transmitting and/or receiving information, data, an argument, a parameter, or memory content.

The present invention is also applicable to a program and a program product.

The following supplementary notes are further disclosed with respect to the above exemplary embodiments.

(((1)))

a light source unit in which a plurality of light sources each including a plurality of divided light emitting sections are disposed, and the plurality of light sources irradiate different regions, respectively; a light receiving unit that receives reflected light of light emitted from the plurality of light sources to a detection target object; and a distance measuring unit that performs distance measuring of the detection target object in accordance with a waveform of the light received by the light receiving unit, wherein the plurality of light sources of the light source unit are disposed with the light receiving unit interposed among the plurality of light sources.(((2))) A distance measuring apparatus comprising:

wherein a centroid of the light source unit coincides with a centroid of the light receiving unit.(((3))) The distance measuring apparatus according to (((1))),

wherein the disposition of the plurality of light sources of the light source unit is disposition in which a sum total of distances between the light sources and the light receiving unit is smaller than a sum total of distances among the plurality of light sources.(((4))) The distance measuring apparatus according to (((1))) or (((2))),

wherein the number of light sources included in the light source unit is four or more, and the light sources are disposed with the light receiving unit interposed among the light sources in a first direction and are disposed with the light receiving unit not interposed among the light sources in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.(((5))) The distance measuring apparatus according to any one of (((1))) to (((3))),

wherein the light emitting sections have rectangular shapes, and the light sources are disposed such that long sides of the light emitting sections face each other with the light receiving unit interposed among the light emitting sections, and an irradiation region of the light source on one side and an irradiation region of the light source on the other side with respect to the light receiving unit overlap with each other on a center portion side of the light receiving unit.(((6))) The distance measuring apparatus according to any one of (((1))) to (((4))),

wherein one of the light emitting sections is turned off in a part in which the light emitting sections overlap with each other in the irradiation region.(((7))) The distance measuring apparatus according to (((5))),

wherein the light emitting sections have rectangular shapes and are disposed such that short sides of the light emitting sections face each other with the light receiving unit interposed among the light emitting sections, and at least a part of all of the light emitting sections falls within a light receiving region of the light receiving unit.(((8))) The distance measuring apparatus according to any one of (((1))) to (((4))),

The distance measuring apparatus according to any one of (((1))) to (((7))), wherein the plurality of light sources are evenly disposed on both sides of the light receiving unit.

(((9)))

wherein the light receiving unit has a rectangular shape, and the plurality of the light sources are disposed on both sides of the light receiving unit at a distance corresponding to a short side of the light receiving unit.(((10))) The distance measuring apparatus according to any one of (((1))) to (((4))),

wherein the plurality of light sources are disposed along a long side of the light receiving unit.(((11))) The distance measuring apparatus according to (((9))),

wherein the light receiving unit has a rectangular shape, the plurality of light sources are disposed on both sides of the light receiving unit at a distance corresponding to a long side of the light receiving unit, and the plurality of light sources are disposed along a short side of the light receiving unit. The distance measuring apparatus according to any one of (((1))) to (((4))),

The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.